Fox
dominated the event last year winning gold at four of the five World Cups and
enters the event ranked number one in the world.

Lawrence
meanwhile is a former World Cup series winner and is expected to challenge Fox
alongside Frenchwoman Caroline Loir, British paddler Mallory Franklin and
Katerina Hoskova of the Czech Republic.

A
large field of 55 athletes will contest the C1M event.

The
opening World Cup holds significant importance for the Australian C1M who are
looking to secure a berth at the senior World Championships.

Western
Australian Robin Jeffery flew over a week earlier than the rest of the team,
recognising the importance of the event.

“I
really enjoy training and racing on the Olympic Course, which holds many fond
memories for me,” Jeffery said.

“My
first goal is to qualify for the World Champs. If I make the final in both classes
it should assure me a ticket to deep creek.”

Joining
Jeffery to fly the Australian flag will be Australian Open champion Ian Borrows
and Victorian Christian Fabris.

European
nations traditionally dominate the C1M event and the London World Cup looks no
different with the top 15 ranked paddlers all coming from Europe.

British
canoeist David Florence, Slovakian pair Alexander Slafkovsky and Matej Benus,
German trio Sideris Tasiadis, Jan Benzien and Franz Anton, and Slovenian duo
Anze Bercic and Benjamin Savsek are just a few big names to watch out for.

The
pair only formed last year and will be looking to build on their experiences
just two years out from Brazil.

Slovakian
legends Pavol and Peter Hochschorner, French pair Gauthier Klauss and Matthieu
Peche, and Slovenian duo Luka Bozic and Saso Taljat will be the boats to beat.

Lucien
Delfour was one of Australia’s most consistent performers in 2013 featuring in
three World Cup finals which was highlighted by winning silver in Spain.

He
will lead the Australian K1M which will also feature NSWIS kayaker William
Forsythe and Victorian Jaxon Merritt.

All
three paddlers have showed some strong signs leading into the event with
Delfour winning the National Championship, Merritt taking out the Oceania
Championships and Forsythe finishing second behind the pair at each event.

Delfour
is currently ranked ninth in the world and will be looking to get off to a
strong start at the first World Cup as he takes aim at cracking the elusive top
five world ranking.

Frenchman
Etienne Daille, German trio Sebastian Schubert, Fabian Doerfler and Hannes
Aigner, Mateusz Polaczyk, Slovenian Peter Kauzer and European champion Jiri
Prskavec of the Czech Republic will be the athletes to beat.

Keep
a close eye on American Michal Smolen after he took out the U23 K1M World
Championship on Australian shores in April.

Racing
will commence on Friday and conclude on Sunday.

The
K1M, C1W and C1M heats and semifinals will be contested on the opening day.
Racing will get underway from 9am local time (6pm AEST).

Stephanie Gilmore has won the Oi Rio Women’s Pro, Stop No. 4 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), after a massive day of competition in four-to-five foot (1.2 - 1.5 metre) surf at Itaúna Beach in Saquarema.

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